Carson City School District in Nevada will bar students from wearing or using smart glasses and other wearable electronic communication devices on school campuses and at school-sponsored activities starting August 18, 2026, ahead of the 2026-2027 school year. The restriction applies to products such as Google Glasses, Meta Ray-Ban glasses, and similar devices from any manufacturer, as reported by KOLO 8 News Now.
Carson High School Principal Cheryl Macy said the policy grew out of questions about whether students could wear smart glasses during high-stakes exams like the ACT and AP tests, which led to broader discussions about privacy and academic integrity, according to Fox Reno (KRXI). Macy noted that only two students in the district currently own smart glasses but that the district wanted to act before the technology became widespread.
The district said students who need assistive technology as part of an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a Section 504 Plan, or a documented medical condition will continue to receive appropriate accommodations under district policy and state law, KTVN 2 News reported.
State law and local precedent
Nevada Senate Bill 444, signed into law in May 2025, requires every school district board of trustees to adopt policies governing student use of electronic communication devices. The bill defines such devices broadly as any device capable of transmitting audio, written, or pictorial information. It passed the Senate 21-0 and the Assembly 42-0, with full implementation required by July 1, 2026. The law mandates progressive discipline systems and sets exceptions for emergencies, health management, teacher-authorized instructional use, and IEP or Section 504 plans, according to LegiPlex.
Carson City's Board of Trustees held a first reading of proposed changes to Policy 546 (Electronic Device Usage) in August 2025 to align with SB 444. Among the changes discussed were prohibiting audio and video capture in student clinics and health offices, clarifying the use of yonder pouches in secondary schools, and banning the recording or sharing of personally identifiable information, Carson Now reported.
The smart glasses restriction follows a cellphone pouch program that Carson City introduced roughly two years ago for middle and high school students. School leaders said reducing technology distractions helped students stay more engaged during class and expressed hope the smart glasses policy will have a similar effect, MyNews4.com (KRNV) reported.
Wearable tech bans spreading to other states
Texas House Bill 1481, signed by Governor Greg Abbott in June 2025, requires school districts to adopt written policies prohibiting students from using personal communication devices during the school day, effective with the 2025-2026 school year. The statute explicitly defines personal communication devices to include smart glasses alongside smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, earbuds, and gaming devices, according to Graham ISD.
Oklahoma Senate Bill 139, signed by Governor Kevin Stitt in May 2025, makes all public schools cell phone-free zones for the 2025-26 school year, prohibiting student use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices during the school day. Moore Public Schools adopted Board Policy 7195 in June 2025, which defines personal electronic devices to include smart watches, smart glasses, smart headphones, and tablets. The policy includes exceptions for students with disabilities whose IEP, Medical Plan, or 504 Plan documents a need for the device to monitor medical or health conditions, per Moore Public Schools.
In Virginia, Prince William County Public Schools issued guidance in early 2026 prohibiting AI-enabled glasses during the school day under Policy 729, which governs cellphone-free education. The system prohibits AI-enabled glasses during assessments including SAT, AP, IB, and Standards of Learning tests, and cited guidance from the Virginia Department of Education and the College Board, WTOP News reported.
In Pennsylvania, Methacton School District prohibited AI-enabled smart glasses and comparable wearable devices, including Meta Smart Glasses, effective February 20, 2026, citing risks to student and staff privacy and academic integrity. The district said students found wearing prohibited devices are subject to the Code of Student Conduct, according to Methacton School District.
Canadian districts adopt similar rules
School District 72 in Campbell River, British Columbia, adopted Operational Procedure 141 governing recording devices and wearable technology. The procedure defines wearable technology to include smart or AI glasses, smartwatches with recording capability, wearable cameras, and AR/VR headsets. It prohibits covert recording in private spaces, real-time streaming without approval, and accessing information during exams. An accommodation process exists for students with documented disabilities under an approved plan, according to School District 72.
School District 42 in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, adopted Procedure 5770 in April 2026, prohibiting student use of wearable technology on school property without principal or teacher approval. The procedure specifically bars AI glasses or other AI technologies from real-time streaming or transmission, prohibits facial recognition or AI-based identification, and prohibits listen-in devices that allow remote monitoring. Accommodations for documented disabilities require a clearly defined accommodation plan approved by the principal, per School District 42.
What the research says
No peer-reviewed studies specifically evaluating smart glasses or wearable device bans in schools were identified in available sources. The policy area is nascent; districts adopting bans cite privacy and testing integrity rationales rather than empirical outcome studies, according to a review of multiple district and state policy documents. Broader research on cell phone bans in schools exists, but no specific studies evaluating outcomes of wearable-device restrictions in educational settings were returned in the provided results.